CARROT GRANOLA

If you love the taste of Fall then this easy-to-make granola is for you!

This recipe was inspired for my 30 Day Get Healthy program which is kicking off on October 23rd. So, this recipe is a little teaser for what is to come in my program.

With every recipe I create, I always focus on packing in nutrient-dense yet minimal ingredients. When looking for recipes, the second I see more than 5-10 ingredients, I am OUT. I learned many years ago that delicious recipes need minimal ingredients. If you like to pack in ingredients, that’s fine too! But this gal does not. 😉

Many people ask me what my favorite “cheat” meal is. My answer is always granola. Most will challenge me saying that granola is healthy and not a “cheat meal”. I will challenge back because not all granola is healthy. Granola to me is crumbled-up cookie. My Mom’s nickname for me was “Cookie” because I LOVE cookies. LOL. So, granola is something that I can buy and within days it’ll be gone because I love it so much!

With my love for granola, I like to skip all the extra ingredients, high sugar, and preservatives. So when I make granola I look to include — vegetables, healthy fats, and dried fruit. It’s a great combination hitting each major food category: protein, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and minerals.

If you love the taste of Fall, then give this a try! Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:

  • 2 Cups Gluten-Free Rolled Oats (I use Bakery On Main)
  • 1 Cup Shredded Carrots
  • 1 1/2 Cup Walnuts (or any nut you like, pecans would be great too)
  • 1/2 Cup Unsalted Pumpkin Seeds
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Cinnamon
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • 1/4 Teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1/3 Cup Maple Syrup
  • 1/3 Cup Virgin Coconut Oil, melted
  • 1/2 Cup Raisins

DIRECTIONS:

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Combine your dried ingredients – oats, carrots, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, and spices into a large bowl. Mix well.
  3. Add your wet ingredients – maple syrup and coconut oil. Mix well together.
  4. Cover your baking sheet in a little bit of coconut oil, make sure you cover the entire surface and corners to avoid sticking. I use a paper towel to help spread this.
  5. Place the batter on the baking sheet. Spread even.
  6. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Mix the granola.
  7. Bake for an additional 20 – 25 minutes.
  8. Remove from heat and spread the raisins on top.
  9. Allow it to cool for texture.

NOTE: Every oven is different. So you may need a little less time or a little more time. So be sure to check on the granola to make sure it doesn’t burn.

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